UK Pledges £150 Million to Modernise Infra in Odisha.

The United Kingdom has pledged support of more than 150 million pounds for six ongoing programmes in Odisha to strengthen governance and administration and streamline urban infrastructure in the State.

While the UK and Odisha have built strong partnerships in industries, health, tourism and infrastructure in the past, both the governments are now exploring investments in several other critical verticals, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

Addressing the inaugural session of ‘UK in Odisha’ campaign here on Wednesday, Naveen said the UK Government is assisting the State to automate chain of PDS and paddy procurement system across all districts which has made the system transparent and ensured timely payment to farmers.

Apart from power sector disinvestment, the UK Government has supported Odisha in introduction of VAT which increased the State's tax revenue from Rs. 4,000 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 16,000 crore in 2013-14, Naveen said.

'As a first in India, the State would provide fiscal incentives to companies based on the number of employees. Also, various Government approvals needed by the industrial sector have been brought under the public service delivery act,' the Chief Minister said.

The State Government has introduced specific timelines for each of the service-based industries. While the green category projects would get clearance in 15 days, all other projects would receive approvals within 30 days, he said.

The Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR), which was approved by the State Cabinet recently, would provide a corpus for development of infrastructure in industrial parks.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that facilitation cells introduced by the Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID), Government of UK, would play a key role in improving the investment atmosphere in the State.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for State DFID, Government of UK, Desmond Swayne, hailed Odisha’s growth of 8.7 per cent in the previous fiscal and the reduction in percentage of population below poverty line by 24.6 points.

'Mining companies, equipment manufacturers and mineral processing firms of the UK have active interests in Odisha. It is also encouraging to see Bhubaneswar-based companies interested in setting up business presence in the UK,' Haynes said.

The UK is supporting Odisha in solidifying revenue base, enabling governance framework to support urbanisation, for better health outcomes, education and skill development,' the DFID Minister said.

The session was followed by a discussion between 10 British companies and State Government representatives on urban and environmental sectors.

Among others, British Deputy High Commissioner Scott Furssedonn-Wood and Lok Sabha member Kalikesh Singhdeo and IPICOL CMD Sanjiv Chopra spoke.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS